EAST LANSING - Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio and 10 senior Spartans received a standing ovation when making their way to center court during halftime of MSU's basketball game against Bowling Green, Saturday night at Breslin Center.

After a rousing introduction by public address announcer Terry Braverman, including the fact that the senior class was 24-4 at home during their career and that the Spartans have the best record in the Big Ten over the last four years, Dantonio took the microphone for a brief address.

"We want to thank everybody for all the support they've given us in the last five years, especially the last four years that these guys have played," Dantonio told the Breslin crowd.

Also listening at Breslin Center were more than 20 junior football recruits from Michigan and Ohio. MSU staged a major junior football recruiting day on campus, Saturday, with the basketball game serving as one of the key events of the day.

Dantonio's words about the senior class could easily be construed as a message to the visiting high school juniors.

"They (the current seniors) put their trust in us and in all of you as they came here in 2007 and 2008 with a vision in mind," Dantonio said during his short address. "The journey is not over yet. They have raised the bar here for all of us. We want to thank them again, go green, beat Georgia!"